ordinal meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

ordinal

adj

UK /ˈɔː.dɪ.nəl/ · CA, US /ˈɔɹ.dɪ.nəl/

Etymology Borrowed from Latin ōrdinālis, adjective formed from noun ōrdō (“order”), + adjective suffix -ālis.

Mathematics, Sciences Of a number Indicating position in a sequence.

"Three" is a cardinal number, while "third" is the corresponding ordinal number.

Biology, Natural sciences, Taxonomy Pertaining to a taxon at the rank of order.

Derived terms: biordinal, disordinal, extraordinal, infraordinal, interordinal, intraordinal, nonordinal, ordinal adjective, ordinal date, ordinal direction, ordinal indicator, ordinalism, ordinality, ordinally, ordinal number, ordinal numeral, ordinal rank, ordinal scale, ordinal variable, subordinal, supraordinal, superordinal
Coordinate terms: nominal, cardinal, interval, ratio

noun

Etymology Borrowed from Latin ōrdinālis, adjective formed from noun ōrdō (“order”), + adjective suffix -ālis.

An ordinal number such as first, second and third.

The most common numerals in Latin, as in English, are the "cardinals"[…]and the "ordinals"[…]2005, F. M. Wheelock, Wheelock’s Latin, 6th revised edition, page 97:

A book used in the ordination of Anglican ministers, or in certain Roman Catholic services

Business, Cryptocurrencies, Cryptocurrency, Finance A unique serial number assigned to a satoshi based on its position in the blockchain.